Occupied Al-Quds: Lebanon´s powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in retaliatory attacks had fired “large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles” at Israeli positions in contested border areas “in solidarity” with Hamas.
Earlier, Israel´s army had said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon in response to a shot from the area without identifying the attackers.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Israeli army claimed its forces hit the home of Hamas’s intelligence chief in the Gaza Strip.
The home was used as a military infrastructure by the group, according to army’s statement.
The army continues to carry out attacks across Gaza, the statement added.
‘Gates of hell’
Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had “opened the gates of hell”.
A journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza’s interior ministry said contained 100 apartments.
Israel’s military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-storey buildings used by Hamas.
Israel’s state-run electricity company cut the power supply to Gaza as army flares lit up the night sky.
Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians were marytred, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the “verge of a great victory”.
“The cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed,” he said.
‘Dangerous precipice’
Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, a gaping hole was ripped into a building, with residents boarding a bus to flee to safety.
The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, where many carriers cancelled flights. Schools will remain closed on Sunday, the start of the week in Israel.
Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel’s crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people.
Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians martyred and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said.
